Teenage driver accused of Offaly offence says week in custody was 'kick up hole'

A YOUNG driver was warned that he runs the risk of going to jail if he continues to commit road traffic offences.

Judge Andrew Cody issued the warning to Evan McMorrow (19), Cloonfad, Oldtown, Athlone who has already amassed 22 convictions despite his age, including two for dangerous driving and four for having no insurance.

Mr McMorrow most recently pleaded guilty to driving without consideration for other road users on the N80 in Killeigh on September 18 last year.

Garda Patrick McGee also summonsed him for insurance, tax and NCT offences and when he appeared before Tullamore District Court on Wednesday he had just spent a week in custody on the order of Judge Cody.

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Before the young man was put in custody Garda McGee had given evidence that he had been “attempting a wheelspin on the road while black smoke was coming out of his exhaust”.

Defence counsel David Nugent, BL, said his client wasn't “doing doughnuts” in Killeigh. He said his client was doing his first year of a mechanic apprenticeship course.

Ordering that he go into custody until he appeared in court again, Judge Cody described Mr McMorrow as a “danger to society”: “He is a thundering disgrace, driving around in this frightening way with tinted windows.”

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The judge recalled that he previously had to issue a bench warrant because of the accused's non-appearance in court.

That was in April and at that sitting Garda McGee said he had stopped an Audi being driven by Mr McMorrow and the young driver had “an attitude”.

Last week Mr McMorrow said he had learned his lesson by being in custody.

“It really did give me a kick up the hole and I learned my lesson and I'm sorry,” he said.

Judge Cody responded: “It mightn't be big enough though. You might need a bigger one.”

Mr McMorrow said that even though he worked on vehicles he would not drive and he was getting a lift to work with a friend. He currently did not own a car himself.

Garda McGee said the young man's home history was not good and he believed the week in custody had opened his eyes.

Mr McMorrow has been under the supervision of the probation service previously and Judge Cody remanded him on bail to July 23 next to monitor his progress.

He said he would not finalise that matter that day but would adjourn it to October 8 for a probation report.

He warned Mr McMorrow that with so many convictions there was enough “to put you away”.